Device to



J. J. GOTTSCHALK.

DEVICE TO PREVENT HENS FROM SETTING.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 20. 1919.

Patented N0v.v18, 1919.

l r p Ill.

1 JOHN J. GOTTSCHALK, 10F TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

DEVICE crornnvmv'r HENS FROM snrrnve.

Specification of Lettersilatent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed June 20, 1919. Serial No. 305,629.

To all whom it may concern Be it'knownthat I, JOHN'J.GO1TSGI-IALK, a citizen of the United Statessand a resident of Taunton, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Devicesto Prevent I-Iens from Setting, of which the following description, in connection Withthe accomp anying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to devices to prevent hens or other fowl from setting.

In order that'the principle of the invention may be readily understood, 1 have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in "the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a view of a hen having my invention applied to one leg;

Fig. 9. is a plan view of that form of my invention herein disclosed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on theline et-t of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section thereofupon the section line 55 of Fig. 3.

In modern poultry farms, it ishighly desirable to provide devices for preventing hens from setting, but so far as I am aware no satisfactory device has as yet been de vised. Upon such farms .the present day incubators and breeders are found to be far more reliable for the hatching of eggs and care of young chickens. I have ascertained from extensive investigations that the average hen will, if permitted, set about three months a year. If this can .be prevented wholly or substantially so and the hens throughout most of that time would continue to lay, it is evident that the egg production would be largely increased.

An in'iportant object of my invention is to provide a device serving this purpose, which can be worn by the hen without substantial inconvenience and without any detriment or ill effects whatever. It has heretofore been proposed to prevent hens from setting by applying a device at the joint of the leg wholly. to prevent bending the joint. A device of this sort, it is obvious, is obj actionable, as it interferes with the freedom of movement of the hon when not setting. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide a device to be applied to the leg preferably above or be low the hook joint. I have found that a single device is su'llicient to prevent most hens from setting, but in extreme cases two of the devices maybe employed, one upon each leg. In its preferred embodiment the devlceof my invention comprises a ball like "piece 1 of suitable materiahsuch, for example, as rubber, though other materials maybe employed, such as felt. Preferably, however, Iemploy a substance that is substantially yielding. The shape or form of the device may be varied within the scope of my invention, and within the scope thereof the device may be used at or overthe hock joint.

Theball-like piece or member 1 is preferably resilient in and of itself, but if desired and as herein disclosed I embedtherein in any suitable way a split spring ring 2 of metal or other suitable material which serves to hold the ball or part 1 in closed position. In order to permit the device to beplaced upon the .leg of the hen, it is provided with a preferably central hole 3 leading into which is a slit at permitting the device -to be sprung open and placed about the leg, after which it immediately assumes its closed position. Preferably upon its inner surface the device is provided with projections or teeth 5 here shown as of substantially triangular form in cross section, between Which are preferably spaces 6 permitting air circulation through the device and preventing overheating of the leg or the adherence of dirt or other. foreign matter. The teeth or projection 5 are preferably relatively narrow along their lines of contact with the leg and serve in effect as cushioning parts or members, since in its preferred embodiment the device relatively highly flexible. The device is of relatively little Weight, but of suiiicient size so that if the hen attempts to set and in doing so attempts to fold or bend its leg up beneath its body, thedevice by coming into contact with the part of the leg above or below the hook joint, as the casemay be, will substantially prevent such action, or will permit it with suchinconvenience that thehen will cease fromits e'ifortsand within a short time will entirely give up the attempt. Extensive experiments made by me have demonstrated that the device will break any hen of the setting habit or inclination in twenty-fourhours. It is unnecessary, though it is within the scope of my invention, to provide any supplemental means to retain the device in position, since the inherent elasticity thereof is sutlicient to retam 1t in place.

The teeth or projections 5 being relatively soft and yielding,'do not chaite the leg, and hence the device isworn without any ill effects whatever and with a minimum of inconvenience. 1 V

The teeth 5 engage the leg with sufiicient 'friction to hold the device in position. Preferably the openings 6 are formed as passages radiating from the central opening 3, but obviously air passages may be atforded in any other suitable manner.

. Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes ofwlimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims 7 V 1. A device of the character described consisting of a member having a substantially uninterrupted resilient surface, and adapted to be worn above or below the hook joint of a fowl to prevent bending the leg suiliciently to permit setting.

2. A device to'prevent hens from setting consisting of a vsubstantially resilient member having a cushioning engagement with the leg, said memberbeing of a size to be brought by attempted bending ofthe legs for setting into discomtorting contact with the leg at a point somewhat removed from that part'ot the leg encircled thereby.

' 3.. A 'de ice to. prevent hens from setting consisting of amember having a series of inwardly directed cushioning teeth. or projections to engagethe leg, said member being of: a size to be brought by attempted bending oi the legs for setting into dis comforting contact withthe leg at a point somewhat removed from that part of the leg encircled thereby.

4. A device to prevent hens from setting cons1st1ng of a member havlng a series of v spaced, inwardly directed, cushioning formations to engage the leg and retained in position by friction, said member being of a size to be brought by attempted bending of the legs for. setting into discomforting contact with the leg at a point somewhat removed from that cled thereby. i A' device of the character described to prevent liens from setting consisting of aballdike member adapted to encircle the 7 leg and having one or more passages'therepart of the leg encir through for air circulation, said member being of a size to be brought by attempted bending of the legs for setting into discomforting contact with the leg at a point somewhat removed from that part oi the leg encircled thereby.

6. A device to prevent hens l'rom setting consisting of a ball-like leg encircling member having a central passage and split to permit it to be opened and applied to the. leg of a hen, said member being of a size to be brought by attempted bending of the legs for setting into discomforting contact with the leg at a point somewhat removed from that part of the leg encircled thereby.

7. A device to prevent hens from setting): consisting of a ball-like leg encircling member of rubber having cushioning teeth to engage the leg, said member being of a size to be brought by attempted bending of the legs for setting into (liscomlorting contact with the leg at a point somewhat removed from that part of the leg encircled thereby.

8. A device to prevent hens from setting consisting of a ball-like leg encircling member 1 having spaced cushioning teeth 5 adapted trictionally to engage the log n! the hen, said member being oi a size to be brought by attempted bending oi the legs for setting into discomtorting contact with the leg at a point somewhat removed from that part of the leg encircled thereby.

9. A device to prevent hens from setting consisting of a ball-like leg encircling member 1 of rubber having a central opening 3 and radiating air passages (3, said device having a slit 4 permitting application thereof to the leg, said member being oi" a size to be brought by attempted bending of thi-v legs for setting into disconitorting contact with the leg at a. point somewhat removed from that part oi? the leg encircled thereby.

10. A device to prevent hens from setting consisting of a ball-like leg encircling member 1 of rubber having a central opening- 3 and radiating air passages (3, said device having a slit 1- perniitling application thereof to the leg, and an en'iboddcd split, metal spring 2 to hold the device in closed position, said member being of a size to be brought by attempted bending of the legs for setting into discomforting contact with the leg at a point soi'newhat rcn'iovcd from that part of the leg encircled thereby.

In testimony whereof, I. have signed my name to this specification.

,JOHN J. GOTTSCHALK. 

